United States: JAMA Psychiatry published evidence demonstrating that those who use medical marijuana face a greater chance of developing cannabis use disorder than people who use just for recreation. The research results show that medical cannabis users need enhanced medical supervision while healthcare providers must evaluate addiction risks, as reported by HealthDay.
Key Findings of the Study
Medical marijuana patients show addictive patterns according to research by Dr. Nora Volkow which matches or surpasses those experienced by recreational marijuana users. Medical cannabis use shows potential to elevate patients’ vulnerability to cannabis use disorder (CUD) development.
- Higher Rates of CUD: Medical marijuana users demonstrated a higher frequency of cannabis use, with some groups showing rates of CUD significantly higher than those seen in recreational users.
- Increased Consumption: Patients using medical marijuana consumed cannabis on more days throughout the year, with some individuals using it up to 70% more frequently than recreational users.
Study Implications for Healthcare Providers
Results from the study provide vital insights regarding medical marijuana prescriptions for healthcare providers. Medical cannabis healthcare providers should first determine addiction risks during recommendations while tracking their patients for CUD indicators.
- Monitoring is Key: The higher possible addiction risks lead healthcare providers to adopt strong surveillance procedures when monitoring patients who use medical marijuana.
- Cannabis Use Disorder: The Centers for Disease Control reports that CUD arises in 30% of cannabis consumers leading to persistent cannabis consumption despite adverse health and social consequences.
Demographic Breakdown of CUD Risk
The study also analyzed cannabis use across various age and gender groups, revealing notable differences in the prevalence of CUD among medical and recreational users, as reported by HealthDay.
Young Adults: Among men aged 18 to 34, medical marijuana users had a CUD rate of 14%, higher than the 8% rate seen in recreational users. Women in the same age group showed a 7% rate for medical users, compared to 6% for recreational users.’
Middle-Aged Adults: Men aged 35 to 49 who used medical marijuana had a 5% CUD rate, while the rate was 4% for recreational users.
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